Featured Research

from universities, journals, and other organizations

Alarming Rise In Substance Abuse Among Somali Combatants

Date:

December 11, 2007

Source:

Public Library of Science

Summary:

An alarming rise in drug-related problems amongst militia in southern and central Somalia, which has not been under the control of any type of government for more than a decade, is reported in a study published this week in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

Share This

An alarming rise in drug-related problems amongst militia in southern and central Somalia, which has not been under the control of any type of government for more than a decade, is reported in a study published this week in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

Related Articles

The problems mainly relate to the excessive use of khat, a plant whose leaves have been traditionally chewed as a stimulant in Somalia. The leaves contain the amphetamine-like cathinone--a potent central stimulant that is dependence-producing and can induce psychotic symptoms, like paranoia. But the intake of other drugs was also perceived to be prevalent by participants in the study. These alterations in patterns of drug use imply potential threats for the peace-building process in general and the re-integration of former combatants--who may have severe dependence on drugs and related psychiatric problems--in particular.

Studies on drug use by former combatants in Western countries have supported the hypothesis that drugs are consumed to suppress traumatic war-related memories but little is know about substance abuse in post-conflict zones in Africa. This new study by Michael Odenwald (University of Konstanz, Germany) and colleagues was initiated by peace talks in 2003 and was one detail of an initiative that was meant to prepare the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) program in Somalia.

Local interviewers conducted 8,723 interviews of armed personnel in convenience samples--groups chosen to participate rather than randomly selected from the whole population. The interviewers asked the combatants about their own use of khat and how much they thought that others in their military units used it and other drugs (including cannabis, tranquilizers, alcohol, solvents and hemp seeds, the use of which is not generally acknowledged).

They found that khat use is prevalent across the whole of Somalia: more than a third of respondents said they'd used khat in the week prior to the interview. The highest level of self-reported khat use was in southern/central Somalia where up to two-thirds of combatants used it, a dramatic rise considering that only one in five adult males used khat in these regions in 1980. More respondents in southern/central Somalia also reported using an excessive amount of khat--consuming more than two bundles per day over a week--and having sleepless nights as a side-effect. In some regions of southern/central Somalia there was a unanimous perception of higher consumption of other drugs amongst combatants, especially cannabis and psychoactive tablets, implying that the previously unacknowledged use of multiple drugs seems to exist in militia units.

The authors suggest that the use of convenience samples, necessary because of the political conditions in Somalia, could mean that the numerical values of these findings may be inaccurate. The overall perceived use of khat was higher than the self-reported use and the authors suggest that this discrepancy is because self-reporting actually produces underestimates of the real figures. The authors warn that future DDR programs will have to be prepared to deal with drug abuse on a scale formerly unknown in the country.

The implications of the study are discussed in a related Perspective article by Kamaldeep Bhui and Nasir Warfa (The Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London), who were not involved in the study. "The challenge facing Somalia and other conflict zones," say the authors, "is that it is young people who are most vulnerable to developmental insults, which can lead to long-lasting and, in some instances, permanent mental health and physical health problems. Yet it is these very people who are likely to be recruited for warfare and are active in conflict zones; specifically young men exposed to drug use and violence, who will then have the most difficulty adjusting to a life free of violence."

More From ScienceDaily

More Health & Medicine News

Featured Research

Mar. 3, 2015 — New assays can detect malaria parasites in human blood at very low levels and might be helpful in the campaign to eradicate malaria, reports a new study. An international team led by Ingrid Felger, ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Adults over the age of 30 only catch flu about twice a decade, a new study suggests. So, while it may feel like more, flu-like illness can be caused by many pathogens, making it difficult to assess ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — No significant change in home habits of smokers have been observed in the aftermath of a ban on smoking in public spaces, researchers report. Greater inspiration to kick the habit likely comes from ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Heart function has been associated with the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease through a new study. Participants with decreased heart function, measured by cardiac index, were two to ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Children of recently separated or divorced families are likelier to drink sugar-sweetened beverages than children in families where the parents are married, putting them at higher risk for obesity ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Gastric bypass and similar stomach-shrinking surgeries are a popular option for obese patients looking to lose weight or treat type 2 diabetes. While the surgeries have been linked to a decreased ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a new study reveals that dietary ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Twice as many children born to mothers who took antibiotics during pregnancy were diagnosed with asthma by age 3 than children born to mothers who didn’t take prenatal antibiotics, a new study has ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Although sedatives are often administered before surgery, a randomized trial finds that among patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, receiving the sedative lorazepam before ... full story

Featured Videos

Mom Triumphs Over Tragedy, Helps Other Families

AP (Mar. 3, 2015) — After her son, Dax, died from a rare form of leukemia, Julie Locke decided to give back to the doctors at St. Jude Children&apos;s Research Hospital who tried to save his life. She raised $1.6M to help other patients and their families. (March 3)
Video provided by AP

Looted and Leaking, South Sudan's Oil Wells Pose Health Risk

AFP (Mar. 3, 2015) — Thick black puddles and a looted, leaking ruin are all that remain of the Thar Jath oil treatment facility, once a crucial part of South Sudan&apos;s mainstay industry. Duration: 01:13
Video provided by AFP

Woman Convicted of Poisoning Son

AP (Mar. 3, 2015) — A woman who blogged for years about her son&apos;s constant health woes was convicted Monday of poisoning him to death by force-feeding heavy concentrations of sodium through his stomach tube. (March 3)
Video provided by AP

Sep. 27, 2011 — Central Asia continues to suffer from a post-Soviet economic breakdown that may have contributed to a re-emergence of several neglected tropical diseases in the area, especially among its most ... full story

May 12, 2011 — Increasing access to rogue online pharmacies that dispense medications without a doctor's prescription may be an important factor behind the rapid increase in the abuse of prescription drugs. ... full story

ScienceDaily features breaking news and videos about the latest discoveries in health, technology, the environment, and more -- from major news services and leading universities, scientific journals, and research organizations.